The 300 Spartan Shield is a critical part of the Phalanx as described by King Leonidas in the film, 300.  It is called a hoplon, and it is a heavy shield designed to take a staggering amount of punishment, and is the principle armor of the individual hoplite warrior.  Combined with his long spear, the hoplite was a deadly combatant to be sure, but when formed into a phalanx with his comrades in arms, the hoplite would be even deadlier.  The idea was to use this large shield to protect not just yourself but to the man immediately to your left, since you would hold your spear with your right hand and arm.  This meant that each warrior had to rely on the man next to him for protection.  Each rank behind yours would level their spears down alongside you, with the rear ranks keeping their spears up until it was time to bring them down when contact with the enemy was imminent.  The enemy would face a formation bristling with spears reminiscent of that of a porcupine.  After initial contact, the front ranks would go to swords for close quarters fighting.  As demonstrated in the film 300, the phalanx was a devastating Greek tactic that would see use not just with Leonides but with Alexander the Great as he would go on to conquer the known Eastern world.  The 300 Spartan Shield and other movie replicas are great collector’s pieces suitable as a wall display or when you feel you have to face down a barbarian horde of your own.